Chrysler-Jeep records best month ever in June

Sweeping price cuts have helped the Chrysler-Jeep and Dodge group post its best monthly sales since the American brands were reintroduced locally in 1995.

Preliminary data shows that the group sold 1030 vehicles in June, up 22 per cent compared with May this year and up 27 per cent compared with June last year.

Sales in the first half of the year of all three brands combined are up by 14.5 per cent in a market down by 5 per cent.

Jeep sales have been driven largely by the company’s all-new Grand Cherokee, whose starting priced was slashed by almost $20,000 to $45,000 when it was introduced in February this year.

Passenger car sales have been given a lift after the price of the Dodge Caliber small car was reduced from $34,000 drive-away to $25,000 drive-away.

Demand for the new Grand Cherokee is so strong that Australia has made an urgent call for more vehicles.

“We’ve put the call in to the US to see if we can get more allocation from other countries,” the managing director of Chrysler-Jeep Dodge in Australia, Clyde Campbell, told Motoring.com.au.

“We’re doing the best we can to shorten the delivery times. We’re thankful for the patience of our customers. We hope to have some orders filled sooner than expected.”

Jeep is holding 2000 orders for the new Grand Cherokee, which dealers say could mean a wait of up to four or five months depending on colour and trim options.

At the moment, the Grand Cherokee is only available with a petrol engine (a choice of 3.6 V6 or 5.7 V8) but a diesel model will be introduced in August.

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